The task we have been given is one that we are both excited and nervous about. It is an enormous task which we believe is of the upmost importance to the human race. We hope that we will be able to put our varying skills together and work as a team to design a new home for those in need. After much deliberation and careful consideration, Team Discovery Channel has come to an agreement about the area we believe to be most suitable for inhabitation on this new Island.
We have choosen four different sites where we would recommend human settlement. Obviously we couldn't have settlement too far West, as the high winds and harsh weather would make it difficult to farm livestock and cultivate crops. Originally we considered the base/side of the mountain (around coordinates 4B), however after reading reports about the island we discovered that this area doesn't get much rainfall. This would be detrimental to inhabitants, and therefore an unsuitable place to settle.
Site 1 - 5C:
The middle of the Island (around 5C) has a vast area of low shrubs, where the soil is shallow but very fertile. This would make land perfect for the cultivation of crops,something we believe to be a a necessary requirement for settlement. The area is also close enough to forests, where various fruits grow and would be available for eating. Also, the land lies about 100 - 150m above sea level. We wanted to ensure development happened high enough to avoid the devastation which would be caused by rising sea levels. This height would ensure the town was safe from such disasters. Finally, the area is close to a fresh water source (river). This would be vital for drinking water, but also beneficial as there are many fresh water animals that could be fished and used for food.
Site 2 - 4C/D:
Our second recommendation is around the coordinates 4C/D. We choose this area because it is further south than the area that is suggested to have low rainfall levels (Middle - East). It is also close to a river, but far enough away from the sea to assume the water would be fresh and useable for drinking, etc. There is also dense tropical trees near by, which sould be used as one sorce of food - fruit. The coconut trees that grow around this area would also be useful for other things aside from food. Such as heat insulation, rope (use the fibres) and baskets/bags (woven leaves). Also, this area is protected from the harsh East winds as it is on the West side/base of the mountain. while being far enough away from the ocean to not be indanger of rising sea levels, it is close enough to to use the ocean for fishing.
Site 3 - 5B:
Our main reason for choosing this area is that it lies in the low shrub bush where the soil is reported to be extremely fertile and therefore perfect for the cultivation of crops. Also, because the land is flat here, development of infrastructure would be relatively easy, compared to more elevated/sloped areas. It is also close to a fresh water sorce, which we believe to be one of the most vital considerations of any settlement area.
Site 4 - To the left of cross section 3CD and 4CD:
This site would be ideal for fresh water (river) and salt water (sea) fishing as it is close to both while being on high enough ground to avoid rising sea levels. The river would also provide residents with fresh drinking water from the rainfall on the mountains. The rainforest would provide settlers with a range of edible plants and non-edible plants which can be useful for building dwellings and necessary infrastructure. The woodland trees would also provide materials for building houses and firewood for cooking and heating.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENT:
The task we have been given is one that we are both excited and nervous about. It is an enormous task which we believe is of the upmost importance to the human race. We hope that we will be able to put our varying skills together and work as a team to design a new home for those in need. After much deliberation and careful consideration, Team Discovery Channel has come to an agreement about the area we believe to be most suitable for inhabitation on this new Island.We have choosen four different sites where we would recommend human settlement. Obviously we couldn't have settlement too far West, as the high winds and harsh weather would make it difficult to farm livestock and cultivate crops. Originally we considered the base/side of the mountain (around coordinates 4B), however after reading reports about the island we discovered that this area doesn't get much rainfall. This would be detrimental to inhabitants, and therefore an unsuitable place to settle.
Site 1 - 5C:
The middle of the Island (around 5C) has a vast area of low shrubs, where the soil is shallow but very fertile. This would make land perfect for the cultivation of crops,something we believe to be a a necessary requirement for settlement. The area is also close enough to forests, where various fruits grow and would be available for eating. Also, the land lies about 100 - 150m above sea level. We wanted to ensure development happened high enough to avoid the devastation which would be caused by rising sea levels. This height would ensure the town was safe from such disasters. Finally, the area is close to a fresh water source (river). This would be vital for drinking water, but also beneficial as there are many fresh water animals that could be fished and used for food.Site 2 - 4C/D:
Our second recommendation is around the coordinates 4C/D. We choose this area because it is further south than the area that is suggested to have low rainfall levels (Middle - East). It is also close to a river, but far enough away from the sea to assume the water would be fresh and useable for drinking, etc. There is also dense tropical trees near by, which sould be used as one sorce of food - fruit. The coconut trees that grow around this area would also be useful for other things aside from food. Such as heat insulation, rope (use the fibres) and baskets/bags (woven leaves). Also, this area is protected from the harsh East winds as it is on the West side/base of the mountain. while being far enough away from the ocean to not be indanger of rising sea levels, it is close enough to to use the ocean for fishing.Site 3 - 5B:
Our main reason for choosing this area is that it lies in the low shrub bush where the soil is reported to be extremely fertile and therefore perfect for the cultivation of crops. Also, because the land is flat here, development of infrastructure would be relatively easy, compared to more elevated/sloped areas. It is also close to a fresh water sorce, which we believe to be one of the most vital considerations of any settlement area.Site 4 - To the left of cross section 3CD and 4CD:
This site would be ideal for fresh water (river) and salt water (sea) fishing as it is close to both while being on high enough ground to avoid rising sea levels. The river would also provide residents with fresh drinking water from the rainfall on the mountains. The rainforest would provide settlers with a range of edible plants and non-edible plants which can be useful for building dwellings and necessary infrastructure. The woodland trees would also provide materials for building houses and firewood for cooking and heating.